KIWI STARS LIGHT UP THE ARENAS AT SYDNEY CDI

Article by Wendy Hamerton

Firstly the stars aligned over the Sydney International Equestrian Centre… then they sparkled with a brilliance that made us all so proud to be Kiwis.

The Kiwi trio of Melissa Galloway, Wendi Williamson and Madi Schollum landed in Sydney for the for the biggest CDI in the Asia Pacific region, and bigger than many in North America and Europe, with a quiet confidence after great performances at the Bates National Championships just a few weeks before.

Aside from the long-standing Trans-Tasman rivalry amongst numerous sporting codes, Melissa and Wendi were keenly chasing FEI Olympic G Ranking points and the opportunity to put themselves before a very experienced and knowledgeable team of judges from Denmark, Netherlands, Great Britain, Argentina, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand (represented by Helen Hughes-Keen and Mura Love) To have a chance for a Paris spot they need four scores from different CDI3* (or above) qualifying events before 31 December 2023 and this was the third event on their must do list. Wendi had been very successful at the Horsley Park venue with Don Amour MH back in October 2019 winning the CDIW Grand Prix Freestyle with a personal best of 76.180%, while Melissa was a first timer at Sydney – so definitely a bucket list item ticked off!

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Melissa Galloway and Windermere J'Obei W

PICTURED BELOW

Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH

PHOTOS Amy-Sue Alston Photography

Madi’s decision to join them, strongly supported by her trainer and mentor Wendi, was on the back of Small Tour national championships in 2022 and 2023 and with the chance to test themselves even further against a very strong Australian CDI* line up which included Brett Parbery, David McKinnon & Rozzie Ryan.

The CDI offered national classes from Advanced level to Grand Prix, and 4,5,6,7yr old horses and 4,5,6yr old pony classes alongside international classes for Juniors, Young Riders, Small Tour, Medium Tour, U25 Grand Prix, Grand Prix – the FEI horse inspection taking over one and a half hours. FEI Para Classes (CPEDI2* & 3*) returned to the event this year with an additional day of dedicated Para classes on Tuesday, making for a five-day show.

There were a number of other Kiwi connections to look out for too. Lucy Cochrane travelled over from Melbourne to compete very creditably for her Keystone base in the 5yr old Young Dressage Horse classes on Keystone Bechstein

(77.6%) and Keystone Furstin Class (75.8%) in the first round.

We saw Vanessa Way’s former ride Timbermill Prequel taking two wins a second in the U25 Grand Prix with Tanisha Ryan, as well as JW Limitless (formerly owned by Jacqui Winspear) and HP Fresco (formerly owned by Holly Leach),

Bon Jovi MH (formerly owned by Team Williamson) in the Young Rider, Astek Ghisella (formerly owned by Janelle Sangster-Ward) in the CDN.

John Thompson had a busy show with two rides in the Advanced classes finishing 5th on Sugarloaf Amnesty & 7th on MSJ Gatsby the Championship and two young horses in each of the 4yr old & 5yr old classes.

There were numerous fans and supporters from New Zealand in the crowed and the riders gave them much to cheer about.

The horses all looked in top order at the first horse inspection, beautifully presented, well behaved and leaving supporters with a quiet air of anticipation.

The next three days were magical. Madi Schollum’s rather lastminute decision to the make the trip with amazing support from family and friends was clearly vindicated. Golda’s campaign began with the Prix St Georges CDI1* for 67.088% and 7th place ribbon in a twenty strong field and less than 1% between 5th and 7th. (There were also an additional thirty-five horses in the CDN Prix St Georges making a total of 55 combinations in small tour). Next up they scored 6th place in the Intermediate I easily qualifying for the Saturday Freestyle. They drew last to go before the break and rode it like they stole it going into the lead at that point. It was a truly professional performance from a rider in their first year of senior FEI competition. Their music was foot perfect, the choreography clear and flowing to finish third behind the experienced pair of Brett Parbery and David McKinnon, giving the kiwi supporters much to cheer about.

Wendi Williamson was appointed by the OC as foreign rider for the event and was mortified when she drew Melissa as number one to go in the Grand Prix. There was much banter around that but both Wendi and Melissa are total professionals in all aspects. Melissa went on to lead from the number one start position in the Grand Prix with scores ranging from 69.348% to 72.500% for a 70.891% total. Wendi chased hard on her relatively inexperienced “Junior” who just gets better at every outing finishing on 70.435% and 5* judge Susie Hoovenaars (AUS) having the pair equal with Melissa and Joey. These were true stand outs in the class, the nearest rivals being the Western Australian combination of Alinta Veenvliet on the Desperados mare Desperanza on 67.717%

The Special saw another Kiwi quinella Melissa earning first place from all judges for a total 72.511%. Wendi & Junior started with a magnificent extended trot and were looking super consistent until some costly mistakes in both line of changes, but the quality and accuracy of the rest of the test was www.oroequestrian.co.nz

Proudly offering: in the day which included the wonderful pony Hilkens Denali (started in New Zealand to small tour level by Waikato’s Amy de Langen). The New Zealand pair were just unstoppable with Melissa taking the win on 76.330%, four judges having her first while Maria Schwennessen at C had Wendi to win. Don Vito MH scored a total 74.825%. So not only did it turn out to be a great Trans Trasman contest, but New Zealand had two riders going head to head pushing each other hard – the fabulous smiles on their faces at the end of their tests said it all, but the rare emotion showed by Wendi for the performance of her ten year old Don Frederico gelding old truly epitomised the feeling of all New Zealand supporters who were delighted to hear their own national anthem played at the prizegiving and relive the special moments of the 2023 Sydney CDI. such they held on to second place with 67.128% nearly 2% ahead of Sue Hearn and Eminent.

The crowds started to fill the venue on Saturday despite the heavy rain which resulted in many trade stands packing up early and lots of very wet riders and horses. Just nine combinations lined up in the CDI 3* Freestyle with a further ten in the CDN earlier